The next of our members I spoke to is Peter Hamilton of Beatnik Framing, who is based in Princes Park.
Peter's high quality, bespoke frames have been a welcome addition to the Liverpool Art and Craft scene over recent years. However Peter's not just a framer - he's a talented photographer too, using vintage cameras and traditional darkroom processes to capture numerous local scenes in stunning black and white compositions.
Firstly can you tell me a bit about what you do and what you make?
I am primarily a picture framer and all my frames are completely hand crafted using locally sourced woods. I love going to the wood yard and buying up all the scrappy offcuts knowing the potential they have to be turned into something beautiful and finished. I sell at local craft fairs as well as Arts Hub 47 and have done framing for local artists and photographers as well as local companies, such as Leaf Tea Shop (I framed all the lovely prints they have in their upstairs space). I also do a bit of photography when I have the time!
How long have you been doing what you do?
I started picture framing around four years ago as a side project – I had started doing some pop art collages and wanted some box frames so I could make 3D versions of them. All the frames I looked at in the shops seemed expensive and not really what I was looking for so I started experimenting making my own and before I knew it framing had turned into my main passion! It was a lot harder than I thought it would be and it took over a year and a lot of learning before I had made anything I felt happy enough to sell but eventually it led to me taking the plunge into self employment. Its been quite an exciting process!
What made you start working as an artist/designer/crafter?
I think I have always been involved in something creative – growing up my sisters and I were quite imaginative and always making our own newspapers or constructing dens in the garden. At school my art teacher suggested I consider doing GNVQ art and design and as soon as she said it I was fixated on doing just that. It was a brilliant two year course and I got to try a bit of everything – life drawing, print making, photography, sculpture. I went on to do fine art at university after this and I think I definitely need a creative outlet in my life!
Peter's high quality, bespoke frames have been a welcome addition to the Liverpool Art and Craft scene over recent years. However Peter's not just a framer - he's a talented photographer too, using vintage cameras and traditional darkroom processes to capture numerous local scenes in stunning black and white compositions.
Firstly can you tell me a bit about what you do and what you make?
I am primarily a picture framer and all my frames are completely hand crafted using locally sourced woods. I love going to the wood yard and buying up all the scrappy offcuts knowing the potential they have to be turned into something beautiful and finished. I sell at local craft fairs as well as Arts Hub 47 and have done framing for local artists and photographers as well as local companies, such as Leaf Tea Shop (I framed all the lovely prints they have in their upstairs space). I also do a bit of photography when I have the time!
How long have you been doing what you do?
I started picture framing around four years ago as a side project – I had started doing some pop art collages and wanted some box frames so I could make 3D versions of them. All the frames I looked at in the shops seemed expensive and not really what I was looking for so I started experimenting making my own and before I knew it framing had turned into my main passion! It was a lot harder than I thought it would be and it took over a year and a lot of learning before I had made anything I felt happy enough to sell but eventually it led to me taking the plunge into self employment. Its been quite an exciting process!
What made you start working as an artist/designer/crafter?
I think I have always been involved in something creative – growing up my sisters and I were quite imaginative and always making our own newspapers or constructing dens in the garden. At school my art teacher suggested I consider doing GNVQ art and design and as soon as she said it I was fixated on doing just that. It was a brilliant two year course and I got to try a bit of everything – life drawing, print making, photography, sculpture. I went on to do fine art at university after this and I think I definitely need a creative outlet in my life!
| What's your proudest crafting moment so far? I felt very proud at the first craft event I was accepted for. I had been going to local craft fairs for quite a while and always felt in awe at the standard of work at them. I was quite apprehensive applying for my first craft fair and I was made up to be selected. I think we have some amazing art and craft in Liverpool and I still feel very honoured to have my work out their alongside them! |
Where, when and how do you work?
I have a workshop in my garden which is a converted garage. This is where I prepare all my wood and assemble the frames. It gets pretty noisy in there when I have my machinery on so I'm not often able to listen to the radio! If I'm doing something quieter like sanding or staining though my radio is set to BBC 6music, I love that you can hear something quirky you've never heard before on it mixed with some old classics (sign of age, I have no idea what's in the charts these days!). I also have a space in my house for mounting artwork and cutting glass, its quite important to have somewhere clean too. I try to work 9-5 but sometimes I find myself working into the evening, I find it hard to stop sometimes if I'm half way through something!
Which artist or designer is your biggest inspiration?
I love Parisian photographers from the 1930's like Brassai, Robert Doisneau and Willy Ronis. For me this is the golden age of photography, I'm a bit of a romantic about old cameras, using film and the smell of chemicals in the darkroom. I also love the artist Andy Goldsworthy, his work hits a spot where art and craft join that I think is really interesting. He uses very traditional processes, for example dry stone wall making, to creating really abstract and poetic pieces that fill the landscape. I saw his work in Yorkshire Sculpture Park last year and can't wait to go again.
I have a workshop in my garden which is a converted garage. This is where I prepare all my wood and assemble the frames. It gets pretty noisy in there when I have my machinery on so I'm not often able to listen to the radio! If I'm doing something quieter like sanding or staining though my radio is set to BBC 6music, I love that you can hear something quirky you've never heard before on it mixed with some old classics (sign of age, I have no idea what's in the charts these days!). I also have a space in my house for mounting artwork and cutting glass, its quite important to have somewhere clean too. I try to work 9-5 but sometimes I find myself working into the evening, I find it hard to stop sometimes if I'm half way through something!
Which artist or designer is your biggest inspiration?
I love Parisian photographers from the 1930's like Brassai, Robert Doisneau and Willy Ronis. For me this is the golden age of photography, I'm a bit of a romantic about old cameras, using film and the smell of chemicals in the darkroom. I also love the artist Andy Goldsworthy, his work hits a spot where art and craft join that I think is really interesting. He uses very traditional processes, for example dry stone wall making, to creating really abstract and poetic pieces that fill the landscape. I saw his work in Yorkshire Sculpture Park last year and can't wait to go again.
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What's your favourite item for sale in the Arts Hub?
There's so much excellent work in the Hub but my favourite piece is "To Blake", a ceramics work by Vicky Crossley. I love the muted tones in it and the strong use of line. It's also beautifully framed!
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully running a successful business and having a studio space in the centre of Liverpool. It's important to me to be working with more local artists and designers, maybe even employing an assistant. I would love to buy my own house and fill it with local art too!
Peter has a range of ready made frames in the Hub priced between £10-20 and also mounted prints of his photography for £11.50 each. He also volunteers one day a week in the shop, and is a member of the Arts Hub committee.
There's so much excellent work in the Hub but my favourite piece is "To Blake", a ceramics work by Vicky Crossley. I love the muted tones in it and the strong use of line. It's also beautifully framed!
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully running a successful business and having a studio space in the centre of Liverpool. It's important to me to be working with more local artists and designers, maybe even employing an assistant. I would love to buy my own house and fill it with local art too!
Peter has a range of ready made frames in the Hub priced between £10-20 and also mounted prints of his photography for £11.50 each. He also volunteers one day a week in the shop, and is a member of the Arts Hub committee.
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